Kajiado County Director for Gender, Mary Taiko, has urged residents across the county to make use of the Gender-Based Violence Recovery Centres (GBVRC).
The director has said that many men and women are undergoing gender-based violence in the communities and do not get redress yet. There are GBV centres at the Kajiado referral, Loitoktok, and Ngong sub-county hospitals that offer both counselling and physical treatment for GBV victims.
“There are many women among us who suffer from physical violence; men too are not being spared. Girls are forced to undergo female genital mutilation, while boys face child labour. We are urging all of them to make use of the GBVRC centres, as they have medical practitioners and counsellors who can offer the help they need,” said Taiko.
The director has also urged men to open up when they feel distressed, as it is not taboo for them to seek help as it is often perceived.
“During the recent drought, many families lost their cattle, which is their main source of livelihood, and this has led to increased cases of mental health among men as they cannot fend for their families. We are urging those affected to come out and get counselling services from the GBVRC centres, as it is not good to suffer while help is available,” said Taiko.
Fredrick Risa, the Kajiado Boda Boda chairman, says that most men in the sector are also undergoing violence at home, but they are not coming out to speak due to stigmatisation by the community.
He says that due to the harsh economic times, most bodaboda riders are not able to provide for their families, and this has led to an increase in physical violence, though men are afraid to talk about it as it is considered a taboo.
Risa is, however, urging the men to open up and seek help rather than die of frustration.
According to the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2022, 36 per cent of women aged 15–49 years in Kajiado County have experienced physical violence since age 15, which is higher than the national average of 34 per cent.
The survey further shows that 37 per cent of women of a similar age who have ever been married or had an intimate partner have experienced physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional violence committed by their most recent husbands or partners.
According to the survey, 9 per cent of Kajiado women aged 15–49 have experienced sexual violence in the last 12 months, which is higher compared to the national average of 7 per cent.
The survey also indicates that in the last 12 months, 25 per cent of married women or those who had intimate partners have experienced physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional violence committed by their husbands or partners in the county, compared to 28 per cent nationally.
GBV victims are encouraged to utilise the GBV toll-free helplines 1195 and 1198 to access free tele-counselling services.
By Diana Meneto
